Demountable shelf edge fence

ABSTRACT

A demountable fence for a shelf having a plurality of holes therethrough comprises a fence panel and a plurality of clips fixed to and spaced along the bottom edge of the fence panel. The clips support the fence panel on the shelf and removably secure the fence panel to the shelf. Each clip includes a sinuously curved securement element extending from the fence panel in one direction along the shelf into one of the holes and terminating in an end portion disposed below the shelf for supporting the fence in a substantially upright but somewhat sloped orientation in a cantilevered manner. The clip further includes an ear laterally offset from the securement element and extending from the fence in the same direction and a connecting element joining the ear and securement element and offset from the fence in the opposite direction, the ear limiting the extent of entry of the securement element into the hole in the shelf as the fence panel is pivoted over and past the hole during installation on or removal from the shelf.

United States Patent 1191 Craig, Sr.

[ Aug. 6, 1974 DEMOUNTABLE SHELF EDGE FENCE Frank G. Craig, Sr., Battle Creek, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Roblin Industries, Inc., Battlecreek,

Mich.

[221 Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 300,121

[75] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl 211/184, 312/140.4 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/10 [58] Field of Search 211/184, I50, 43, 51,181;

312/1404; 248/DIG. 3, 223

[56] References Cited 7 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [5 7] ABSTRACT A demountable fence for a shelf having a plurality of holes therethrough comprises a fence panel and a plurality of clips fixed to and spaced along the bottom edge of the fence panel. The clips support the fence panel on the shelf and removably secure the fence panel to the shelf. Each clip includes a sinuously curved securement element extending from the fence panel in one direction along the shelf into one of the holes and terminating in an end portion disposed below the shelf for supporting the fence in a substantially upright but somewhat sloped orientation in a cantilevered manner. The clip further includes an ear laterally offset from the securement element and extending from the fence in the same direction and a connecting element joining the ear and securement element and offset from the fence in the opposite direction, the ear limiting the extent of entry of the securement element into the hole in the shelf as the fence panel is pivoted over and past the hole during installation on or removal from the shelf.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 DEMOUNTABLE SHELF EDGE FENCE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fence for a shelf, and more particularly to a fence removably mounted on the shelf by engagement with holes in the shelf.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In shelves used to support articles, for example, display shelves in retail establishments such as grocery stores and the like, it has long been known to provide a generally upstanding fence near the forward edge of the shelf to positively retain the articles on the shelf. Such fences have been commonly used when the shelf is to support a plurality of relatively unstable articles, for example, produce such as apples, oranges and so forth or circular cans axially aligned lengthwise of the shelf, such articles tending to roll off the front edge of the shelf, particularly when stacked, in the absence of a fence or the like. However, such shelf fences have in the past'frequently been fixedly mounted on the shelf or, if removably mounted, secured to the shelf in such ways as to be cumbersome and time consuming to install or remove. Such is undesirable where, as for example in a retail grocery establishment, the type of articles to be carried on a particularshelf may change frequently, necessitating or making highly desirable frequent installation, removal or relocation of the fence with respect to the shelf. In such establishments, which frequently operate on a high volume, low per item profit basis, restocking of shelves must be carried out rapidly to minimize labor costs. Thus, anything which materially slows the stocking process, including a shelf fence mounting arrangement requiring significant additional time expenditures in the stocking process, is undesirable.

Therefore, the objects of this invention include the provision of:

l. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, the fence being particularly adapted for removable mounting at or near the front edge of the shelf.

2. A fence, as aforesaid, which includes clips spaced therealong for securement to the shelf by interengagement with ones of the holes in such shelf and which is installable and removable from the shelf in a simple and rapid manner by a linear and a pivotal movement of the fence.

3. A fence, as aforesaid, in which the clips support the fence in a generally upstanding, but angled, orientation with respect to the shelf and wherein the clips include securement portions insertable into the holes in the shelf to cantilever the fence with respect to the shelf and further include portions resting on the surface of the shelf during installation on and removal from the shelf to prevent excessive entry of the securement portions into such holes, so as to prevent jamming of the fence in an intermediate position during installation or removal.

4. A fence, as aforesaid, which is of metal construction and in which the several clips for each fence may be identical and each formed from a unitary length of rodlike material by a multiple bending operation and which may be attached to a fence panel by a weldingoperation.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a shelf with a fence embodying the invention installed thereon in a position of use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially broken fragmentary cross-sectional view substantially taken on the line Il-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2 with the shelf additionally broken away to show the entry of portions of the fence into holes therein.

' FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the fence in intermediate position of installation or removal.

FIG. 5 is a top elevation view of the clip of FIGS. 2 and 3 with the lower edge rod of the fence superimposed thereon in broken lines.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words up, down, right and left will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words front and rear will refer to the left and right faces of the fence as seen in FIG. 2. The words in and out will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the apparatus and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a demountable fence for a shelf having a plurality of holes therethrough. The fence comprises a fence panel and a plurality of clips fixed to and spaced along the bottom edge of the fence panel. The clips support the fence panel on the shelf and removably secure the fence panel to the shelf. Each clip includes a sinuously curved securement element extending from the fence panel in one direction along the shelf into one of the holes and terminating in an end portion disposed below the shelf for supporting the fence in a substantially upright but somewhat sloped orientation in a cantilevered manner. The clip further includes an ear laterally offset from the securement element and extending from the fence in the same direction and connecting element joining the ear and securement element and offset from the fence in the opposite direction, the ear limiting the extent of entry of the securement element into the hole in the shelf as the fence panel is pivoted over and past the hole during installation on or removal from the shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 discloses a shelf 10 having a normally horizontal panel 12 perforated by a plurality of holes 13, here arranged in several rows extending longitudinally of the shelf panel 12 adjacent the front and rear edges of the shelf. The frontmost row of holes 13 is spaced rearwar'dly of the front edge of the upper shelf surface 12. The particular shelf 10 shown is formed of sheet metal and is provided with depending front and rear flanges l5 and 16 and a depending end flange 17, such flanges depending from the corresponding edges of the shelf panel 12. In the particular embodiment shown, the front flange is sloped forwardly toward the bottom edge thereof and such bottom edge is provided with an upturned portion forming a trough 19 usable, for example, for holding price placards or the like.

A fence 21 is removably mountable on the shelf 10, by means hereinafter discussed, and in its normalinstalled position of use extends along and is transversely spaced from one of the rows of holes 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the sake of, example, the front most row. The fence 21 includes a fence panel 26, preferably of welded rod construction, comprising spaced parallel top and bottom rods 22 and 23 interconnected by spaced, parallel and substantially transversely extending intermediate rods or wires 25 rigidly secured thereto. In the particular embodiment shown, the transverse wires 25 are bent and each includes, as seen in FIG. 2, a lower portion 25A angled upwardly and forwardly from the bottom rod 23 and an upper substantially vertical portion 25B. Thus, the fence panel 26, when in its position of use shown in FIG. 2, is generally somewhat forwardly angled from the bottom rod 23.

The fence 21 further includes a plurality of spaced mounting clips 28 adapted to lie atop the shelf panel 12 for supporting the fence in its position of use of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment shown, each clip 28 is formed of a single length of metal rod, as by a multiple bending operation, and is substantially rigid. As seen from the top, in FIG. 5, the preferred clip 28 is shaped to resemble an Arabic numeral 5 and except as hereinafter noted is substantially planar. The clip 28 comprises an ear 29 at one end thereof, a securement element 31 at the other end thereof and a connecting element 32 interposed between and integrally connecting the ear and securement element.

The ear 29 (FIG. 5) is substantially U-shaped having a convexly curved, rearwardly extending bight portion 34 disposed between a forwardly extending free end 36 and a further end 37 which parallels and extends forwardly beyond the free end 36 to the end of the connecting element 32. The substantially U-shaped ear thus opens forwardly with respect to the fence.

The connecting element 32 comprises a preferably linear intermediate segment of the rod defining the clip and parallels the bottom rod 23 of the fence.

The securement element 31 comprises a first portion 39 which extends from the remaining end of the connecting element 32, preferably at right angles thereto and transversely of the fence, in a rearward direction, substantially paralleling portions 36 and 37 of the ear 29. The first portion 39 extends rearwardly from the fence panel 26 substantially to the same extent as the ear 29. The securement element 31 further comprises an end portion 41 (FIG. 2), defining the remaining end of the clip defining rod. The end portion 41 is downwardly offset from and extends rearwardly from the first portion39, being connected thereto by an intermediate portion 43 which extends downwardly and angles somewhat rearwardly from the first portion 39 to the end portion 41 and connects thereto by suitable bends. With the fence 21 in its position of use in FIG. 2, the portions 39 and 41 lie, respectively, against the upper and lower faces of the shelf panel 12 and respectively, forwardly and rearwardly of one of the holes 13 therein, the intermediate portion 43 extending through such hole 13.

The spacing of the ear 29 from the securement element 31 preferably exceeds the spacing of adjacent holes 13 in the adjacent row of holes, the car 29 being spaced between holes in such row when the securement element 31 is engaged with one said hole. Thus, the ear 29 does not block access to any holes 13, leaving such holes free for engagement by shelf dividers (not shown) or the like.

The bottom rod 23 of the fence panel lies atop and is secured, preferably by welding, to the planar, substantially horizontal portion of the clip intermediate the ends of portions 36, 37 and 39, in such manner that connecting element 32 is spaced forwardly of the rod 23 and portions 34, 41 and 42 are spaced rearwardly of the rod 23. The spacing of connecting element 32 from the fence bottom rod 23 is preferably such that the center of gravity of the fence panel is spaced forwardly from such connecting element. Thus, in the installed position of the fence, the fence panel 26 is supported in a substantially cantilevered manner on the shelf by the clips 28, the horizontal portion of the clip, particularly the connecting element 32, bearing downwardly against the upper face of the shelf while the end portion 41 of securement element 31 pushes upwardly against the under face of the shelf panel 12.

In practice, the fence 21 will frequently extend the entire length of the shelf 10, which may be many feet long. In such instances a plurality of clips 28 may be spaced along the length of the fence for engagement with a plurality of holes 13 in a given row. Where shorter fence sections are used, the number of clips used will be less but normally not less than a minimum of two.

OPERATION Although in FIGS. 1 and 2 the fence 21 is disclosed as being installed adjacent the forward edge of the shelf 10 and with the fence panel extending forwardly of its supporting clips 28, it is also possible to otherwise 10- cate the fence on the shelf, for example near the rearward edge thereof, by appropriate location of a corresponding row of holes 13 in the shelf as well as to vary or reverse the orientation of the fence so that, for example, the fence panel leans rearwardly of its supporting clips 28.

To install the fence 21 on the shelf in its location of FIG. 1, the fence is oriented substantially as in FIG. 4 (in a position pivoted rearwardly approximately from its installed position of FIG. 2) with the end portions 41 of clip securement elements 31 positioned above and in axial alignment with corresponding holes 13 of the shelf. The fence is then lowered toward the shelf, the end portions 41 dropping into the aligned holes 13 in the shelf. The fence may be released at this point and will by gravity slide somewhat further downwardly and forwardly with the intermediate portion 43 of each securement element 31 sliding along the walls of the corresponding hole 13 until the connection between the intermediate portion 43 and first portion 39 lies adjacent the hole 13, in the position of FIG. 4. Downward motion of the fence is positively blocked at this point by bearing of the rounded bight portion 34 of each car 29 on the upper face of the shelf panel 12. Thus the ear 29 prevents significant entry of the first portion 39 of securement element 31 into the hole 13.

Thereafter, a forward push on the fence will cause the fence to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the line of contact of the ears 29 with the shelf. When the center of gravity of the fence has moved forwardly past such line of contact, gravitational force will further pivot the fence smoothly into its position of use shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the connecting element 32, as well as the remainingplanar portions, of each clip rest upon the top face of the shelf and the securement element end portions 41 bear against the underface of the shelf plate 12 to hold the fence panel in its substantially cantilevered position of use on the shelf.

Removal of the fence from its installed position of FIG. 2, is carried out by reversal of the above installation steps, namely by a rearward push on the fence to pivot same over center to its intermediate position of FIG. 4, followed by simple upward lifting of the fence to remove the end portion 41 of each clip from the holes 13. Throughout the pivotal portion of the installation and removal motions, the bearing of the car 29 against the upper shelf face prevents significant entry of the clip first portion 39 into the corresponding hole 13.

In contrast, Applicant has found that omission of the ear 29 allows all, or a significant part, of the clip first portion 39 to drop into the corresponding'hole 13 when the fence is in or near its FIG. 4 position during an installation or removal operation. Such is troublesome during a removal operation since upon a straight upward pull on the fence the forward and upward face of the portion 43 tends to catch against the under face of the shelf plate 12 requiring a carefully controlled rearward linear shift of the shelf to accompany the initial portion of the upward travel of the fence to free the fence from the shelf. In addition during removal, the fence tends to pivot rearwardly past its FIG. 4 position and to fall onto the shelf with its top rod 22 resting on the shelf, locking the fence against removal from the shelf. In the absence of the ear 29 installation is at least as troublesome, since with any substantial part of the clip first portion 39 within the hole 13, a forward push on the fence positively locks the fence against forward pivoting from its position of FIG. 4 toward its installed position of FIG. 2. Such problems are multiplied when the fence is long and includes a number of clips.

With the fence installed as in FIG. 2, articles prone to rolling, such as rounded fruits or vegetables or reclining circular cans longitudinally aligned with the shelf, stacked on the shelf are positively retained on the shelf by the fence. The greater the forward loading of the fence by such articles, the more firmly the fence intergages the shelf.

The clip is preferably of circular cross section rod and this, together with the rounded contours of the car 29 and securement element 31, tends to minimize damage, by contact with the clip, to fragile or soft skinned articles on the shelf.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising:

a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use;

a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first portion for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence with respect to the shelf, said clip further including a substantially linear connecting element extending longitudinally of said fence and spaced therefrom in said opposite direction, said connecting element interconnecting said ear with said securement element and being adapted to bear against the upper surface of said shelf when said shelf is in said substantially upstanding position of use, the center of gravity of said fence panel being disposed in said opposite direction beyond said connecting element whereby the fence panel exerts a down force on said connecting element and urges said end portion of said securement element upwardly against said shelf, so as to be supported in cantilevered relationship with respect to said shelf.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said ear is substantially U-shaped having a convexly curved portion extending in said one direction from said fence.

3. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising:

a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use;

a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first position for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence with respect to the shelf, said clip comprising a single length of rod having said securement element formed at one end thereof and said ear formed at the other end thereof, the intermediate ing a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising:

portion of said rod defining a substantially linear connecting element extending laterally along the lower edge of said fence and displaced in said opposite direction therefrom, the ends of said connecting element being integral with extensions of said ear and said securement element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said ear comprises a substantially U-shaped portion of the rod opening in said opposite direction, the intermediate portion of the car being convex in said one direction for bearing against said shelf when said fence is pivoted in said one direction for removal or in said opposite direction toward its position for use for installation on said shelf.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said fence panel is a welded construction comprising spaced parallel top and bottom rodsat the upper and lower edges thereof interconnected by a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending transversely therebetween, said clip being substantially planar except for said intermediate and end portions of said securement element, said bottom rod of said fence panel resting atop the planar part of said clip, at least a portion of said wires being angled with respect to said planar portion of said clip upwardly and in said opposite direction, said bottom rod being secured to the ends of a portion of said clip defining said ear and intermediate the ends of said first portion of said securement element of said clip.

6. A fence for removable installation on a shelf hava fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use;

a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first portion for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence with respect to the shelf, the part of said clip including said ear and said first portion of said securement element being configured substantially as an Arabic numeral five and is of monolithic rod construction, said ear comprising a loop at one end of said rod opening in said opposite direction, one end of said loop being free, the other end of said loop connecting through a substantially linear and laterally extending portion to the end of said first portion of said securement element remote from said intermediate and end portions, said end portion being parallel to but ofiset from said part by said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a smoothly curved interconnection to said first and end portions.

7. An elongate fence construction for bounding one side of a goods receiving area of a shelf and particularly useable longitudinally of the shelf to prevent unintended shifting of goods transversely therepast off the shelf and being removably and relocatably installable along a row of holes in such goods receiving area of said shelf, said fence construction comprising:

a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in its normal position of use;

at least a pair of clips fixedly spaced along the lower edge of said fence panel for support by said shelf and engageable with a correspondingly spaced pair of holes of said row in said shelf, each of said pair of clips comprising a rod member extending transversely of said fence panel lower edge and comprising a securement element extending atop said shelf into said goods receiving area and a connecting element extending atop said shelf away from said goods receiving area and an ear element extending atop said shelf into said goods receiving area, said rod member being rigidly fixed to said fence lower edge, said securement element and ear element of said rod member bearing on said shelf at points spaced longitudinally of said fence lower edge, said securement element terminating in a downwardly offset end portion downwardly receivable through the adjacent hole of said row to underlie the shelf in remotely spaced relation from said fence panel lower edge, said connecting element and end portion of said rod member bearing respectively against the upper and lower faces of said shelf at points spaced in opposite directions well away from the fence panel for positively preventing rocking of the fence panel about its lower edge away from said goods receiving area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said ear element is so spaced from said securement element as to lie in spaced relation to said holes of said row, whereby holes of said row adjacent said ear are unobstructed by said ear.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said ear element extends from said fence lower edge a distance not exceeding the transverse spacing of said end portion from said lower fence panel edge and supports the fence panel upon tilting into said goods receiving area on removal from said shelf for preventing penetration of the part of said securement element inboard of said downwardly offset end portion into the corresponding row hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said fence panel is pivotally supported on said shelf by said clips for pivoting between positions spaced from said row of holes on opposite sides thereof. 

1. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising: a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use; a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first portion for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence with respect to the shelf, said clip further including a substantially linear connecting element extending longitudinally of said fence and spaced therefrom in said opposite direction, said connecting element interconnecting said ear with said securement element and being adapted to bear against the upper surface of said shelf when said shelf is in said substantially upstanding position of use, the center of gravity of said fence panel being disposed in said opposite direction beyond said connecting element whereby the fence panel exerts a down force on said connecting element and urges said end portion of said securement element upwardly against said shelf, so as To be supported in cantilevered relationship with respect to said shelf.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said ear is substantially U-shaped having a convexly curved portion extending in said one direction from said fence.
 3. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising: a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use; a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first position for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence with respect to the shelf, said clip comprising a single length of rod having said securement element formed at one end thereof and said ear formed at the other end thereof, the intermediate portion of said rod defining a substantially linear connecting element extending laterally along the lower edge of said fence and displaced in said opposite direction therefrom, the ends of said connecting element being integral with extensions of said ear and said securement element.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said ear comprises a substantially U-shaped portion of the rod opening in said opposite direction, the intermediate portion of the ear being convex in said one direction for bearing against said shelf when said fence is pivoted in said one direction for removal or in said opposite direction toward its position for use for installation on said shelf.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said fence panel is a welded construction comprising spaced parallel top and bottom rods at the upper and lower edges thereof interconnected by a plurality of spaced parallel wires extending transversely therebetween, said clip being substantially planar except for said intermediate and end portions of said securement element, said bottom rod of said fence panel resting atop the planar part of said clip, at least a portion of said wires being angled with respect to said planar portion of said clip upwardly and in said opposite direction, said bottom rod being secured to the ends of a portion of said clip defining said ear and intermediate the ends of said first portion of said securement element of said clip.
 6. A fence for removable installation on a shelf having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, such fence comprising: a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in a position of use; a clip fixed adjacent the lower edge of said fence for supporting said fence on said shelf, the clip including a securement element extending transversely from said fence in one direction, said securement element having a first portion secured to said fence and adapted to lie atop said shelf, an intermediate portion for extending downwardly through one of said holes in said shelf, and an end portion adapted to underlie said shelf for preventing pivoting of said fence in the opposite direction out of said substantially upstanding position, said clip further including an ear laterally offset along said lower edge of said fence from said securement element and extending therewith substantially as far as said first portion for bearing on said shelf to prevent insertion of said first portion of said securement element into said hole during installation or removal of the fence wIth respect to the shelf, the part of said clip including said ear and said first portion of said securement element being configured substantially as an Arabic numeral five and is of monolithic rod construction, said ear comprising a loop at one end of said rod opening in said opposite direction, one end of said loop being free, the other end of said loop connecting through a substantially linear and laterally extending portion to the end of said first portion of said securement element remote from said intermediate and end portions, said end portion being parallel to but offset from said part by said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a smoothly curved interconnection to said first and end portions.
 7. An elongate fence construction for bounding one side of a goods receiving area of a shelf and particularly useable longitudinally of the shelf to prevent unintended shifting of goods transversely therepast off the shelf and being removably and relocatably installable along a row of holes in such goods receiving area of said shelf, said fence construction comprising: a fence panel substantially upstanding from said shelf in its normal position of use; at least a pair of clips fixedly spaced along the lower edge of said fence panel for support by said shelf and engageable with a correspondingly spaced pair of holes of said row in said shelf, each of said pair of clips comprising a rod member extending transversely of said fence panel lower edge and comprising a securement element extending atop said shelf into said goods receiving area and a connecting element extending atop said shelf away from said goods receiving area and an ear element extending atop said shelf into said goods receiving area, said rod member being rigidly fixed to said fence lower edge, said securement element and ear element of said rod member bearing on said shelf at points spaced longitudinally of said fence lower edge, said securement element terminating in a downwardly offset end portion downwardly receivable through the adjacent hole of said row to underlie the shelf in remotely spaced relation from said fence panel lower edge, said connecting element and end portion of said rod member bearing respectively against the upper and lower faces of said shelf at points spaced in opposite directions well away from the fence panel for positively preventing rocking of the fence panel about its lower edge away from said goods receiving area.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said ear element is so spaced from said securement element as to lie in spaced relation to said holes of said row, whereby holes of said row adjacent said ear are unobstructed by said ear.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said ear element extends from said fence lower edge a distance not exceeding the transverse spacing of said end portion from said lower fence panel edge and supports the fence panel upon tilting into said goods receiving area on removal from said shelf for preventing penetration of the part of said securement element inboard of said downwardly offset end portion into the corresponding row hole.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said fence panel is pivotally supported on said shelf by said clips for pivoting between positions spaced from said row of holes on opposite sides thereof. 